Steve Barnett used a Strike King Diamond Shad lipless crankbait to fool this largemouth. Photo by John Felsher.

No other Louisiana lake holds more potential for producing double-digit bass than Toledo Bend in March.

"Mid-March is the peak season for catching above-average bass in Toledo Bend," confirmed Ricky Yeldell, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries chief biologist at the reservoir. "That time produces more big bass than any other time of year. The Toledo Bend Lake Association provides free replicas for any bass over 10 pounds caught and released back into the lake. Each year, they give out about 45 to 50 replicas."

At 186,000 acres, "The Bend" stretches 65 miles along the old Sabine River channel between Louisiana and Texas and holds more than 1,264 miles of shoreline.

Each state stocks approximately 450,000 Florida-strain bass fry annually. In addition, the Toledo Bend Lake Association releases 20,000 to 27,000 "Phase II" Florida fingerlings. These 4- to 6-inch fingerlings enjoy a substantially greater survival rate than standard 1/2- to 2-inch fry.

With excellent habitat, deep water, abundant food and stocking, Toledo Bend bass grow to impressive proportions. In fact, the lake produced a 15-pounder, the second-largest bass ever caught in Toledo Bend, on June 27, 2009. Donnie Gill of Leesville, La., enticed the 15.03-pound largemouth with a Texas-rigged worm in 22 feet of water at the south end of the lake. Eric Weems still holds the official lake record with a 15.32-pounder he caught in Six-Mile Creek, a major arm on the Texas side just north of the dam.

While Six-Mile Creek, Housen Bay and other southern creeks traditionally produce giant bass, northern waters might hold bigger bass in the spring. The north side of a lake typically warms first. With the winter sun in the southern sky, the most intense rays hit the northern shorelines. In addition, eastern shorelines receive more direct afternoon sunshine than western shores. Consequently, the northeast portion of a lake generally warms first, followed by the northwest, southeast and finally southwest sections.

On such a large lake as Toledo Bend, the spawn lasts for months, moving from north to south. In addition, not all bass spawn simultaneously. Some largemouths begin spawning in late January or as late as May. Some male bass spawn with more than one female and may remain bedded into June. However, the spawn peaks during the April full moon. A secondary peak occurs during the March full moon with a smaller spike in May.

"Toledo Bend is a very complex lake, so it's difficult to say what's happening at any one place at a given time," Yeldell explained. "During March, depending upon weather conditions, bass might be in spawn or pre-spawn mode. Because the lake is so long, timing of the spawn varies greatly."

The Sabine River enters the extreme northern end of Toledo Bend amid an archipelago surrounded by myriad channels. This area contains many shallow flats that offer good spawning habitat. Several major tributaries create more honeyholes.

Before spawning, bass often stage near dropoffs and major points. For staging fish, concentrate on sloping points or channel flats. Around points, throw Carolina-rigged worms or lizards. Hot colors include black and blue, black neon, green pumpkin, pumpkinseed and chartreuse, June bug or watermelon. As bass move shallow, throw jerkbaits, Rat-L-Traps, Hot Spots or spinnerbaits parallel to grass lines or drops.